Created by: Michael Phillips
Honors ICB II
Dr. Rosin
Dr. Rosin
Dedicated to
Suzanne Phillips
After receiving a call from an old doctor that worked with her mother, 3 years after her death, it was believed that hemochromatosis may have played a role in her passing. This doctor suggested that all of the children be tested for hemochromatosis. Without showing any symptoms, Suzanne Phillips was tested first to see if she possessed the gene itself. For her, it came back positive, but not all of her other siblings even possessed the gene at all. Blood work was then needed to determine if she was a carrier of the disorder or actually had hemochromatosis. A common blood work panel for iron was taken by her doctor and all of the results came back normal. After consulting with her mother's doctor once more, he suggested that ferritin (a common marker for hemochromatosis) also be tested, one not on the normal iron panel. Returning back to her regular doctor, this test was performed. It came back positive, showing that she has hemochromatosis. Her doctor, realizing the mistake, worked to add ferritin to the common iron blood work panel for many of the local heath facilities. If her ferritin was not tested, she would have never know that she had hemochromatosis until the effects of it become too great. She started TP immediately and after stabilization, reached the schedule of treatment every 8 weeks, a treatment she will have to stay on for the rest of her life. After starting regular TP she is leading a happy and healthy life.
Support
There are many places that you can go to receive support if you are found as having hemochromatosis. Local doctors and health facilities should be able to provide you will all of the care and treatment you may need. These experts should have the answers to any of your questions. If you need more emotional support, there are many in person and online areas to receive the care you need. https://groups.psychologytoday.com/rms/state/IL/Saint+Charles.html can help you find therapists in the local area and support groups that work with genetic disorders consoling. For more specialized hemochromatosis support, https://www.dailystrength.org/group/hemochromatosis is an online forum and support system only meant for those with hemochromatosis. This is a website where you can learn from and talk to those suffering from the same disorder.